Motion picture camera



o. w. GITHIENS sr AL 2,174,155

Sept. 26, 1939.

. IIQTION PICTURE CAMERA Filed April '7 1937 a Sheets-Sheet 1 5 2 v I237a. 9

I1 Hf llllllllglllwmH NVENTORS 0T 0 W. GIT/{ENS 650265 KND BY EVERETT I7- PORTER E h ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1939- o. w. GITHENS Emu.

uo'nou 1 10mm: CAmA Filed April 7, 1937 3 Shuts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5 0 T70#61 7/15: 50x65 KEMDE TTORNEY mean Sept. 1938 2,174,155

-UNlTED STATES. PATENT" OFFICE MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Otto W. Gitliensand George Kende, New York,

and Everett M. Porter, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors, by memo assignments,to Universal Camera Corporation, New York, N. Y., a cor-' poration ofDelaware Application April 7, 1937, Serial No. 135,410

8 Claims. (Cl. 88-17) This invention relates to motion picture cameras.More particularly, it relates to an improved motor unit construction formotion picture cameras.

One 01' the objects of our invention is to provide a highly improvedmotor mechanism for a motion picture camera of the character describedwhich shall be of unitary construction, which shall occupy relativelysmall space and thus be suitable for use in combination with motionpicture cameras oi' relatively small size, and which shall include inthe said unitary construction the film take-up and .ta-ke-ofl spindles,as well as an improved speed control mechanism.

Another object of our invention is to provide in a camera motor unitconstruction, as described, a highly improved footage meter operating insynchronism with the motor mechanism.

Still another object 01' our invention is to provide in combination witha camera motor unit construction of the character described, highlyimproved starting and stopping means for the motor mechanism.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a highly improvedcamera motor unit of the character described, which shall compriserelatively few and simple parts, which shall be easy to assemble andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be highly compact andrugged in construction, and which at the same time shall operate with ahigh degree oi eiliciency for the purposes intended.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and inpart'hereinatter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and 01 which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

Certain features described but not claimed in this application aredescribed and claimed in the following copending applications: SerialNos. 121,488; 122,688; 128,728, filed January 21, 1937, January 28,1937, and March 3, 1937, respectively.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments 01' this invention,

' Fig.1 is a side elevational view of a motion picture camera embodyingour invention with portions of the side wall thereof broken away todisclose the interior mechanism;

, Fig. 2 is -a side elevational view 01' the motion picture cameraillustrated in Fig. 1 but disclosing the opposite side oi said camera;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken 5 substantially on theline 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 6--6 ofFig. 5;

, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the apparatusshown in Fig. 5 illustrating the 10 operation thereof; L

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFig. 9; V

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 ofFig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line |0|0of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substan tially on the line I| ofFig. 10.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and 20 more particularly toFigs. 1 to 4 of sheet 1, there is disclosed an assembled motion picturecamera 20 of the type fully disclosed and described in our saidco-pending applications Ser. Nos. 121,488; 122,688 and 128,728. In thecamera 20 there is housed within one part of the three-part cameracasing, a highly improved and compact motor unit constructed inaccordance with our present invention and comprising a pair 01 parallelmetallic plates 2| and 22 held in spaced relationship by aplurality ofspacing rods 23 (see'Figs. 5 and 6), each having one end thereof rivetedto the plate 2|. The other ends of the said rods 23 are provided withreduced threaded portions which are designed to project through suitablyregistered apertures 24 in the plate 22, and held in position by thenuts 25. The plate 22 may be provided with a plurality of notchedportions 28 (see Fig. 5) designed to furnish clearance forcorrespondingly o positioned fastening lugs integral with the cameracasing, not here shown but which is shown and fully described in ourco-pending application Ser. No. 128,7 28. It is also noted that theplates 2| and 22 are substantially similar in contour to each 45 otherand to the contour of the camera casing, and are adapted tofit withinone oi the parts of said casing. One of the two plates, such as plate2|, is made slightly larger than the plate 22 so that the motor unitmounted on and between the said 50 plates may be inserted within thesaid casingpart so that the plate 22 will be disposed adjacent thebottom wall of said casing part, while the peripheral edge of the plate2| is adapted to rest upon a shoulder portion adja'centthe upper portion01 5 said casing part disclosed application.

Rotatably mounted in the plate 2| is a take-up spindle 21 (see Fig. 9)which may be integral with the shaft 28, the end 29 of which isjournalled in the plate 22. The take-up spindle 21 is adapted to bedriven by a pinion 30 which is fixedly mounted on a ring 3| which inturn frictionally engages the shaft 28. A pair of washers 32 and 33 aredisposed on either side of the pinion 30, the washer 33 being fixed tothe shaft 28 while the washer 32 is freely mounted on said shaft 23, Aspring 34, interposed between the washer 32 and a shoulder 21a on theshaft 28 contacting the plate 22, is adapted to maintain in saidco-pending the pinion in proper position against the fixed I is adaptedto be driven by the pinion 30 through the meshing gears 39 and 38,actuated by a spring motor 37. The gear 38 is rotatably mounted on theshaft 42, the opposite ends of which are journalled in the plates 2| and22. The gear 39, meshing with the gear 38, is mounted on a shaft 23, theopposite ends of which are journalled in the plates 2i and 22. The gear39 is adapted to mesh with the pinion 30 which drives the spindle 21through the shaft 28. The motor 3? comprises a flat spirally woundspring 37a, the inner end of which is fixed to the shaft '52 while theouter end thereof is looped over the spacer bar 23 and permanently heldin position in any suitable means, such as for example, rivet Slh, shownin Fig. 8.

The end 42a of the shaft 62 which projects be yond the plate 22 andthrough an opening in the camera casing is screw-threaded to receivetherw on a winding handle or hail 15 for winding the spring old (see 2,8 and 9). To prevent unwinding of the spring .Z'la until such time as iseifectively used for driving the gear 38 to operate the cameramechanism, there is provided a ratchet wheel ll; which is rigidlymounted on the shaft '32 for rotation therewith, by any suitable means,such as for example, providing the said shaft d2 with a knurled portion32b and cone-- spondlngly lsnurling. the opening in the ratchet 46 toprovide easy and quick assembly. The ratchet 3c is provided with anextended collar portion 46a upon which is rigidly hired a spring guardplate 37b which is designed to rotate with the ratchet 56. The gear 38is so mounted on the collar lta that the spring may he wound withoutrotation of the said gear 3 Attached to the gear 33 is a pawl d7]pivotally molested on a pivot 48 and adapted to cooperate with theratchet wheel it, The pawl M is normally urged in a direction to engagethe teeth of the ratchet Wheellt by means of a spring 59. It is thusseen that when the spring 3M unwinds to rotate the shaft 62, the ratchet46 will also rotate with the said shaft 2. The pawl Ml normally inengagement with the ratchet teeth, and being fixed to the gear 38, willcause the rotation of the said gear 38, to drive the camera mechanism.

Non-rotatably attached to the plate Pi is a loading spindle 5i! similarto the spindle 2i but adapted to receive thereon a spool containing a Inmesh with a chain of gearing to be described.

is a pinion 5| (see Figs. 6 and 8) integrally mounted on a shaft 52 uponwhich is also mounted a pair of cams A and B for causing reciprocatingmotion of'a pair of shuttles adapted to operate the film intermittentadvance claw and the film shutter, the function and operation of whichis fully described and shown in-our said co-pending application Ser. No.121,488. The shaft 52 has the opposite ends thereof journalled in theplates 2| and 22. The pinion 5| is adapted to be driven from the motor31 by the gear 4| mounted on the shaft 43, the opposite ends of whichare journalled in the plates 2| and 22. Also mounted on the shaft 40 forrotation therewith is a pinion M, which in turn meshes with the gear 39driven directly from the motor 31 by the gear 38 (see Fig. 8).

The following mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 is provided fornormally rendering the spring motor 31 ineffective to drive theabovementioned chain of gears. On a shaft 55 having the opposite endsthereof journalled in the plates 2| and 22 there is mounted a pinion 56which is designed to mesh with the gear 4|. Mounted on the same shaft 55for rotation therewith, is an annular disc or plate 5? which ispreferably of wavy cross-sectional contour. Cooperating with the wavyplate 5! is a. starting button device 58 comprising a shaft 59 which isdesigned to pass freely through an aperture 60 in the plate 22 and isprovided the outer end thereof with an en larged head (it suitable forthe application of iinger pressure thereto. The shaft 59 is alsoprovided with a shoulder portion E32 spaced from the head (it the limitsof the axial move ment or" the Elli within the a entire 62. device 53 issupported by ilat spring 53, one end of which is attached to theshoulder 62 shaft 59, and the other end of said spring 63 is held infixed position by the spacer bar 23 and the plate 22, as clearly" shownin Figs. 8 to ill of the drawings. The opposite end of the from that or"the head 68 disposed het'ween the plates ill and 22 is provided with anenlarged an nular integral disc portion 64 which is of Sun."- cientdiameter so'that a portion thereof overlaps a portion of the wavy plate5?]. The spring 653 is so designed as to normally urge the disc 34 intofrictional contact with the wavy plate 51'.

It is seen from the above described oonstruction that the effectiveoperation of the spring motor ill to drive the chain of gearinghereinheiore described is normally prevented by the starting huttondevice lit by reason of the fact that the disc lid is held in frictionalcontact with the wavy plate 51 which prevents rotation of the gear 56which, in turn, prevents rotation of the gear ll, and so on. When it isdesired to efl'ectively use the camera for recording photographicimages, it is merely necessary to exert a slight pressure, by a fingerof the operator, on the head 6i of the starting button device 58, whichmoves the disc 64 out of contact with the wavy plate 5? against theaction of the spring 63 and thus permits the rotation of the chain ofgears for effectively driving the pinions 30 and 5| to operate thetake-up spindle 21, and the intermittent film claw and shuttermechanism, respectively, as" clearly shown and described in our saidco-pending applications Ser. Nos. 121,488 and 122,688. By making theplate 51 of varying cross section, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, we areable to stop the driving mechanism 'very quickly when the push button Itis released, since there will be no possibility of frictional slidingbetween the plate 51 and the disc 64. For the same reason there will bepractically instant starting of the motor to drive the camera mechanismwhenever the head SI of the push button 58 is pressed inwardly againstthe action of the spring 63.

For controlling the speed of operation of the motor mechanism; there isprovided an improved governor device which will now be ducribed. Mountedon the shaft 55 for rotation therewith is an annular relatively heavydisc 10 which is caused to rotate whenever the push button device 58 ispressed in, to start 'the operation of the motor mechanism. On one fiatside surface of the disc 10 there is provided a pair of substantiallysemi-circular members 1| (see Fig. 11) which are symmetrically disposedand pivotally mounted on said plate by means of a pair of diametricallyopposed pivots Ila. These members 1| are housed within a hollow casing,12 open at the top and which is rigidly fixed to the plate 2|. Whenproperly assembled, the disc 10 is disposed adiacent the top of casing12. The members 1| are so designed that when they are contiguously'disposed as shown in Fig. 11, there will be a slight clearance betweenthe inner surface of the surrounding wall 12a of the casing 12 and thecircumferential periphery of the members 1|. Upon rotation of the disc10 the centrifugal force generated will cause the members 1| to swingoutwardly onthe pivots H41, and upon reaching a predetermined speed,will frictionally contact the wall 12a to thereby lessen the speedofthepinion 56 and thus affect the speed'of the motor 31. To prevent toorapid rotation of the disc 10, there is also provided a retarding member13 which is adapted to frictionally contact the outer edge of the disc10. The member 13 is held in frictional engagement with the surface ofthe disc 10 by resilient means, such as a spring 14, one end of which isadapted to carry the member 13 and the other end thereof being securedto a suitable supporting post 15 fixed to the plate 2|, as shown in Fig.8.

By our invention we have also incorporated in the unitary motorconstruction above described, a mechanism for registering the amount ofunexposed film. The film footage counter comprises a member which ispivotally mounted on the plate 22 by means of an enlarged headed fixedpivot 8|. The member 80 comprises a fiat portion 80a thereof adapted tooverlie the outer surface of the plate 22 and another portion 80bintegral with the portion 80a but offset in a different plane therefromso that the portion 80b will overlie the opposite or inner surface ofthe plate 22. An opening 82 is provided in the plate 22 of suitable sizeand shape to permit theinsertion of the portion 80b therethrough and toprovide clearance for pivotal movement. The amount of pivotal movementof the member 80 is restricted by a pin projection 83 fixed to theportion 80a anddesigned to operate in an enlarged opening 84 in theplate 22.

Thisopening isofsuchsize'astopermitapredetermined amount of pivotalmovement of the member Ill therein (see Fig. 5) for reasons which willsoon become apparent. The member ll is normally held in the limit of itscounter-clockwise pivotal movement by means of a spring 85, one end ofwhich is attached to the plate 22 by an enlarged headed pin 88, whilethe free end of the spring 85 is designed to resiliently abut the pin03, as shown. If desired, the pin II may be provided with an annularperipheral groove to retain the spring 85 in proper position. Designedfor synchronous operation with the member 80 .is a pin projection l1mounted on the fiat surface of the gear 38 for rotational movementtherewith. The edge lflc of the portion 80b is cammed, as shown, and theprojection 81 is disposed in the path of said cammed portion 800 so thatwhenever the motor mechanism is in effective operation-to rotate thegear 38, the pin 81, after making a complete revolution, will strike thecammed surface "c and pivotally move the member 80 in a downward orclockwise direction.

It is noted that a portion of the member 80 is provided with asubstantially squared corner 80d which is designed to cooperate with arotatably mounted ratchet wheel 88 mounted on theplate 22. The teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 88 are so designed that upon each revolution of thepin 81, the member 80 will be rotated in a clockwise di rection so thatthe portion 80d thereof will engage one of the teeth of the ratchetwheel 88 to turn said ratchet wheel in a counter-clockwise direction apredetermined distance. The member 80 may be provided with a slottedaperture Bla surrounding the shank of the pivot 8| to permit suillcientinward sliding movement of the member 80 when the pin 81 engages thecammed surface We and the portion 80d engages a tooth of the ratchetwheel 8!. Suitable markings 89 are provided on the top surface of theratchet wheel 88 which are designed to be visible through an aperture inthe adjacent wall of the casing part in which the motor unit is mounted.The number, visible through the outside of the casing, will register thenumber of feet of unexposed film. To prevent clockwise rotation of theratchet wheel 88 and at the same time to hold the said wheel againstundesired counter-clockwise rotational movement, there is provided aresilient member, such as a spring 90, one end 900 of which is attachedto the plate 22 by any suitable attaching means, such as a downwardlyprojecting portion 9| of said spring being received in'a correspondingaperture in the plate 22 and swaged or weldedly held therein, while theother end 90b of the spring 90 resiliently contacts the ratchet teeth toprevent rotation of said ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction. Aknurled knob member 02 may be provided on the ratchet wheel 88 in orderto turn the same by hand to the proper starting point against the actionof the spring ll when the camera is first loaded.

The motor unit construction described above is also designed to beutilized as an aid in assembling the casing parts of the camera. Thus,for example, the plate 2| is provided with threaded holes 94 designed tohave attached thereto the film claw shutter movement unit, as fullyshown and described in said co-pending application Ser. No. 121,488.Also, the plate 2| is provided with means such as a pair of opposednotched lugs 95 designed to cooperate with a cam locking member 7 diicarried by a second camera casing part in the manner fully shown anddescribed in our said co-pendlng application Ser. No. 128,728.

It is thus seen from the above description that by our invention we haveprovided a highly compact motor unit assembly contained between a pairof spaced parallel plates, which may also include the take-up andtake-off spindles, film footage counter, and a starting and stoppingmechanism which may all be assembled as a complete unit and theninserted into one of the parts of a three-part casing, such as fullyshown and described in our said co-pending application Ser. No. 128,728.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as'new and desire tosecure byLetters patent? 1. In a motor unit for a motion picture camerahaving a pair of spaced parallel plates and a spring motor supportedbetween the plates, releasable means for normally preventing theeffective operation of said motor, said last named means comprising ashaft journalled in said plates, a pinion on said shaft adapted to bedriven by said motor, a Wavy disc fixed to said shaft for rotationtherewith and a releasable push button member having a portion thereoffrictionally cooperating ivith said disc.

2. a motor unit for a motion picture camera having a pair of spacedparallel plates and a spring motor supported ioetween the plates, re=leasahle means for normally preventing the ei= fectlve operation of saidmotor, said last named means comprising a shaft journalled in saidplates, a pinion on said shaft adapted to he driven by said motor, adisc fixed to said till for rotation therewith and releasable pushlautton member having a portion thereof frictionaliy cooperating withsaid dis means for supporting said push button member comprising aspring having one end thereof fixed to one of said plates and the otherend thereof fixed to said posh hutton member Whereloy to resilientlyurge the said portion of said push hutton into frictional contact withsaid disc.

3. in a motor unit for a motion picture camera having a pair of spacedparallel plates and. a sprin motor supported hetween the plates, releasable means for normally preventing the effective operation of saidmotor, said last named means comprising a shaft journalled in saidplates, a pinion on said shaft adapted to be driven by said motor, aWavy disc fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and a releasablepush button member having a portion thereof friotionally cooperatingwith said disc, means for supporting said push button member comprisinga spring having one end thereof fixed to one of said plates and theother end thereof fixed to said push button member whereby toresiliently urge the said portion of said push button into frictionalcontact With said disc, a portion of said push button being adapted topass freely through an aperture in said plate carrying said spring.

. 4. In a motion picture camera having a spring motor unit for operatingthe camera mechanism, releasable means for normally preventing theoperation of said motor, said means comprising a rotatably mountedshaft, adapted to be driven by said motor, a pinion, a wavy disc, saidpinion and said disc being mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith,a second shaft provided with an enlarged disc portion, resilient meansfor non-rotatably supporting said second shaft on said unit whereby tonormally urge said enlarged disc portion into frictional contact withsaid wavy disc.

5. In a motor unit for a motion picture camera having a pair of spacedparallel plates and a spring motor supported between the plates,releasable means for normally preventing the effective operation of saidmotor, said last named means comprising a shaft Journalled in saidplates, a pinion on said shaft adapted to be driven by said motor, adisc fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, a releasable pushbutton memher having a portion thereof frictionally cooperating withsaid disc, and a governor comprising a disc mounted on said shaft forrotation therewith.

6. In a motor unit for a motion picture camera having a pair of spacedparallel plates and a spring motor supported between the plates,releasable means for normally preventing the effective operation of saidmotor, said last named means comprising a shaft journalled in saidplates, a pinion on said shaft adapted to be driven by said motor, adisc fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, a releasable pushbutton mernher having a portion thereof frictionallycooperah ing withsaid disc, and a governor comprising a disc mounted on said shaft forrotation therewith, a stationary cup shaped member fixed to one of saidplates a of inertia members pivotally mounted on disc, said inertianiemhers eing received in said cup shaped member, said pivotally mountedmembers h i a apted to project outwardly by centrifugal rorce o tiohalcontact with the inner Wall of cup shaped member.

for rotation therewith, a second shaft pro vided with an enlarged discportion, r silient means for non-rotatably supporting said second shafton said unit whereby to normally urge said enlarged disc portion intofrictional contact with said Wavy disc, and a governor comprising a discmounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, stationary cup shapedmember fixed to one of said plates and a pair of inertia memberspivotally mounted on said disc, said inertia members being received insaid cup shaped member, said pivotally mounted members being adapted toproject outwardly by centrifugal force into frictional contact with theinner wall or" said cup shaped 1nernher.

ii. In a motor unit for a motion picture camera having a pair of spacedparallel plates and a spring motor supported between the plates,releasalole means for normally preventing the effective operation ofsaid motor, said last named means comprising a shaft journalled in saidresiliently supporting said i'riction member whereby to urge the sameinto frictional contact plates, a pinion on said shaft adapted to bedriven by said motor, a disc fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith,a releasable push button member having a portion thereof irictionallycooperating with said disc, and speed retarding means comprising a discmounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, a friction member andmeans for with said disc.

O'ITO W. GI'I'HENB. GEORGE KENDE. EVERETT M. PORTER.

